IWAGUMI AIR SCAPE INSTALLATION BY ENESS MAKES AUSTRALIAN DEBUT
Melbourne-based art and technology studio ENESS installs Iwagumi Air Scape, a large inflatable rock garden, in Prahran Square for its Australian premiere following a showing in Singapore. Inspired by the Japanese concept of Iwagumi, which expresses a cultural reverence for natural rock formations, the installation introduces a sculptural landscape that contrasts the city’s urban fabric with a representation of wilderness. By day, the inflatables are textured and shaped to resemble real rocks, surprising visitors with their inflatable nature. At night, the installation is illuminated with vibrant lighting, transforming the space into a glowing, immersive environment.
all images courtesy of Ben Weinstein
inflatable rocks transform melbourne’s public space
The installation by ENESS comprises sixteen air-filled inflatables textured with photographic prints of granite, creating the optical illusion of massive rock formations. Visitors can walk among these oversized forms and explore crevices and narrow passages up to 10 meters long, simulating the experience of traversing a canyon. As daylight fades, Iwagumi Air Scape by the Melbourne-based practice shifts through a vibrant lighting display paired with an interactive soundscape. Sounds of native birds, frogs, crickets, monkeys, bats, and mountain streams are triggered randomly as visitors move through the space, heightening the immersive quality of the installation. Ambient urban noises subtly intrude within the formation, underscoring the dialogue between natural and urban environments.
Iwagumi Air Scape in Prahran Square
A contemporary take on Japanese rock gardens
Artist and ENESS founder Nimrod Weis describes Iwagumi Air Scape as a work that surprises visitors when they realize the rock-like sculptures are in fact inflatable. The installation celebrates the Japanese tradition of closely observing natural compositions — particularly rock formations — that have inspired artforms such as rock gardens and aquascaping. By translating these forms into inflatable structures, ENESS explores the boundary between the virtual and physical, creating artificial objects that reconnect urban audiences with nature. Through its scale and presence, the installation invites contemplation of nature within a public urban setting, encouraging reflection on the relationship between city life and the natural environment.
the installation introduces a sculptural landscape that contrasts the city’s urban fabric
the inflatables are textured and shaped to resemble real rocks